THE COMING OF THE SERVANT CONT.
MARK 1:5 – – LESSON 1
5. His baptism was CHRISTIAN BAPTISM, for Christ and all His apostles were baptized by John,vs. 5a, 9; Acts 1:22, “Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.”
6. Many were baptized and they CONFESSED THEIR SINS, v. 5b; John 3:5-6, “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”
7. They were immersed in Jordan, v. 5c (No sprinkling here).
8. His simple clothing, v. 6a. 2 Kings 1:8, “And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.” What a contrast between John and most modern day preachers.
9. His plain diet, v. 6b; Leviticus 11:22, “Even these of them ye may eat; the LOCUST after his kind, and the BALD LOCUST after his kind, and the BEETLE after his kind, and the GRASSHOPPER after his kind.”
Is there anyone that would be willing to live on grasshoppers and honey, just to preach the gospel with out compromise?
B. The Forerunner’s Message. vs. 7-8
1. He exalted the mighty Christ. v. 7a; Matthew 3:11, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
2. He humbled his own self, v. 7b; Matthew 3:14, “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?”
3. John baptized with water. v. 8a; Matthew 3:11, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
4. Christ would baptize with the Holy Ghost, v. 8b; Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
a. He does not here mention the baptism of fire, for it is a baptism of judgment, Matthew 3:11-12, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” This is the work of the Son of God and not of a servant.
b. This verse does not mean that John’s baptism was unauthorized, Matthew 21:25, “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?”
c. The New Testament Church kept on baptizing in water after Christ died and rose again. Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” See also Acts 16:37; Acts19:5; Acts 22:16
II. THE BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION OF THE SERVANT. vs. 9-13
A. His Baptism, vs. 9-11.
1. Jesus vindicated John’s baptism by being baptized. v. 9a; Matthew 3:15, “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”
Why would He travel 60 to 70 miles to be baptized if it makes no difference who does the baptizing?
2. He was immersed not sprinkled in Jordan, v. 9b; Acts 8:38-39, “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”
3. The Trinity approves His Baptism, vs. 10-11:
a. The Son ascends out of the water, v. l0a;
b. The Spirit descends upon Him, v. l0b; John 1:32, “And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.”
c. God’s promise is fulfilled, Isaiah 42:1, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”
d. The Father speaks His approval, v. 11a; Psalms 2:7, “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”
Note: Jesus never preached, nor worked a miracle until He was baptized, and neither is anyone today authorized to preach before they are scripturally baptized. Jesus never sinned and was never lost, therefore, this should surely teach us that baptism is not for salvation!!
B. His Temptation. vs. 12-13
1. The servant DRIVEN into the wilderness to be tested, v. 12;
Mark takes a more forceful style than the other Gospel writers. “The thought is that of STRONG MORAL COMPULSION by which the Spirit led Jesus TO TAKE THE OFFENSIVE against temptation and evil INSTEAD OF AVOIDING THEM.” —The Bible Knowledge Commentary.
2. The length of His testing. v. 13a.
a. Forty is God’s number of testing. It rained for 40 days, Genesis 7:4, “For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.”
b. Israel was in the wilderness for 40 years, Exodus 16:35, “And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.”
c. Moses was on the mount 40 days, Exodus 24:18, “And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.”
d. Jesus fasted and was tempted for 40 days, Matthew 4:2, “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.”
e. Moses spent his first 40 years in Egypt, then he spent 40 years in exile in the desert, and then he spent 40 years leading Israel to the border of Canaan, Exodus 7:7, “And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.”
3. The source of His temptation, v. 13b. Satan.
4. The witnesses of His temptation, v. 13c.
5. The ministers of His temptation, v. 13d. Angels.